CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TO WORKS

SUBJECT : CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES

CLASS : SS 2

TERM : THIRD TERM

WEEK SEVEN

TOPIC:  CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TO WORKS

Meaning of Christian attitude to work:

Hello students, today we will be discussing the Christian attitude towards work. As Christians, our faith should shape our approach to work and how we view it in our lives.

Christian attitude to work implies the right  and correct type of behavior expected of a Christian at work or while working.

The Christian attitude towards work is rooted in the belief that work is a God-given responsibility and a means to honor and serve Him. It goes beyond simply seeing work as a means to earn a living, but rather as a way to fulfill God’s purpose and contribute to society.

Behaviours Christians should put up at work:

1. Diligence: Christians are encouraged to work diligently and with excellence, regardless of the nature of the job. This means putting in our best effort, being responsible, and striving for excellence in our work. For example, a Christian doctor should diligently care for patients, a Christian teacher should diligently prepare and deliver lessons, and a Christian farmer should diligently tend to the fields to produce a good harvest.
2. Integrity: Christians are called to be honest and have integrity in their work. This means being truthful, fair, and upright in all aspects of work, including interactions with colleagues, customers, and employers. For example, a Christian accountant should be honest in managing financial records, a Christian salesperson should be truthful in representing products, and a Christian manager should be fair in making decisions that affect employees.
3. Stewardship: Christians view their work as an opportunity to be good stewards of the resources and talents that God has given them. This means using our skills, time, and resources wisely and responsibly in our work. For example, a Christian entrepreneur should use their business to create value and make a positive impact on the community, a Christian artist should use their talent to create meaningful and uplifting art, and a Christian engineer should use their skills to design sustainable solutions.
4. Service: Christians are called to view their work as a form of service to God and others. This means considering the needs of others and using our work as a way to bless and help those around us. For example, a Christian nurse should care for patients with compassion, a Christian social worker should advocate for the vulnerable, and a Christian customer service representative should serve customers with kindness and patience
5. Balance: Christians believe in maintaining a healthy balance between work and other aspects of life, such as family, rest, and spiritual growth. This means not allowing work to consume our entire lives but prioritizing our relationships with God and loved ones.For example, a Christian parent should prioritize spending time with their children, a Christian employee should set healthy boundaries between work and personal time, and a Christian leader should model a healthy work-life balance for their team
6. Faithfulness: As Christians, we are called to be faithful in our work, meaning that we should be honest, reliable, and consistent in our efforts. We should not engage in eye-service, which means only working diligently when someone is watching or supervising us, but rather we should be faithful in our work even when no one is watching. For example, a Christian employee should not only work diligently when the boss is around, but also when working independently or remotely, knowing that their work is ultimately an offering to God.
7. Loyalty: Christians should be loyal and devoted to the service they have been called into, whether it is a specific job, role, or responsibility. This means being committed to the values and goals of the organization or team we are a part of, and not engaging in deceitful or unethical behavior in our work. For example, a Christian manager should be loyal to the vision and mission of the company they work for, and not compromise their integrity for personal gain or advancement.
8. Diligence: Sluggishness or laziness is not tolerated in Christianity. Christians are called to be diligent in their work, meaning that they should be active, hardworking, and productive. Diligence involves putting in effort and striving for excellence in our work, as it is ultimately an expression of our faith. For example, a Christian student should diligently study and complete assignments, a Christian mechanic should diligently diagnose and repair vehicles, and a Christian artist should diligently hone their craft and produce quality work
9. Consistency: Christians should strive for consistency in their work, meaning that they should be reliable and dependable in their efforts over time. Consistency is important for progress and growth in any work or endeavor. For example, a Christian athlete should consistently train and practice, a Christian writer should consistently write and revise, and a Christian entrepreneur should consistently innovate and adapt to changing markets.
10. Creativity: Christians are called to reflect the creativity of God in their work. This means being open to new ideas, being innovative, and seeking ways to improve and enhance our work. Creativity can lead to solutions, improvements, and impact in our work. For example, a Christian teacher should creatively engage students with different teaching methods, a Christian scientist should creatively approach research questions, and a Christian designer should creatively come up with new designs that inspire and uplift

Evaluation

1. What is the meaning of Christian attitude towards work? a. Being lazy and avoiding work b. Working only when someone is watching c. Being faithful, diligent, and creative in our work d. Being deceitful and dishonest in our work
2. According to Christian values, how should Christians approach their work? a. With a hypocritical attitude b. With disloyalty and deceitfulness c. With diligence and consistency d. With laziness and lack of creativity
3. What does faithfulness mean in the Christian attitude towards work? a. Being unreliable and inconsistent b. Working only for personal gain c. Being honest, reliable, and consistent in our efforts d. Engaging in eye-service and deceitful behavior
4. What does loyalty mean in the Christian attitude towards work? a. Being disloyal and uncommitted b. Compromising integrity for personal gain c. Being committed to the values and goals of the organization or team d. Engaging in unethical behavior for career advancement
5. How should Christians approach diligence in their work? a. Being sluggish and lazy b. Striving for excellence and productivity c. Avoiding hard work and effort d. Engaging in inconsistent and unreliable work
6. What is the importance of consistency in the Christian attitude towards work? a. Inconsistency is encouraged for progress b. Consistency is not important in Christian work c. Consistency is essential for progress and growth d. Inconsistency is a sign of creativity in Christian work
7. How does creativity relate to Christian attitude towards work? a. Creativity is not important in Christian work b. Christians are called to avoid new ideas and innovations c. Creativity is encouraged as a reflection of God’s creativity d. Creativity leads to laziness and lack of productivity in Christian work
8. What does it mean to be diligent in Christian work? a. Being lazy and avoiding hard work b. Putting in effort and striving for excellence c. Engaging in eye-service and deceitful behavior d. Being inconsistent and unreliable in work
9. How should Christians approach their work in terms of consistency? a. Being inconsistent and unreliable b. Striving for consistency and dependability c. Avoiding hard work and effort d. Engaging in deceitful behavior for personal gain
10. What is the ultimate goal of Christian attitude towards work? a. Personal gain and advancement b. Laziness and lack of creativity c. Faithfulness, loyalty, diligence, consistency, and creativity d. Unreliable and inconsistent work

Answer key:

1. 1. c. Being faithful, diligent, and creative in our work
   2. c. With diligence and consistency
   3. c. Being honest, reliable, and consistent in our efforts
   4. c. Being committed to the values and goals of the organization or team
   5. b. Striving for excellence and productivity
   6. c. Consistency is essential for progress and growth
   7. c. Creativity is encouraged as a reflection of God’s creativity
   8. b. Putting in effort and striving for excellence
   9. b. Striving for consistency and dependability
   10. c. Faithfulness, loyalty, diligence, consistency, and creativity

Assignment:

1. Mention and explain four behaviours a Christian is expected to put up at work.

2.    Explain  Christian attitude to work.

Lesson Plan Presentation:

Topic: Christian Attitude towards Works and Behaviors Christians Should Exhibit at Work

Duration: 45 minutes

Objective: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to understand the Christian attitude towards work and the behaviors that Christians should exhibit at their workplace.

Introduction (5 minutes):

• Greet the students and engage them in a short icebreaker activity related to their understanding of work and their experiences in a work environment.
• Ask students if they are aware of the Christian attitude towards work and if they have any prior knowledge about the behaviors Christians should exhibit at work.

Main Content (30 minutes):

1. Christian Attitude towards Works

• Define Christian attitude towards work as being faithful, diligent, and creative in our work, and explain that it is based on biblical teachings and values.
• Discuss the importance of work in the Christian faith, highlighting that it is viewed as a God-given responsibility and a means of glorifying God.
• Explain the concept of faithfulness in work, emphasizing the need for Christians to be honest, reliable, and consistent in their efforts, and to avoid engaging in hypocritical behavior or eye-service.
• Discuss the concept of loyalty in work, highlighting the importance of being committed to the values and goals of the organization or team, and avoiding deceitful behavior.
• Discuss the concept of diligence in work, emphasizing the need for Christians to strive for excellence and productivity, and to avoid laziness or sluggishness.
• Discuss the concept of consistency in work, highlighting that progress and growth are measured by consistency of diligence and hard work, and discouraging inconsistent or unreliable behavior.
• Discuss the concept of creativity in work, emphasizing that Christians are expected to be diverse in creating new ideas, and that creativity is encouraged as a reflection of God’s creativity.

2. Behaviors Christians should Exhibit at Work

• Discuss specific behaviors that Christians should exhibit at their workplace based on the Christian attitude towards work.
• Discuss the importance of honesty, reliability, and consistency in work, and how these behaviors reflect a Christian’s commitment to their faith and values.
• Discuss the importance of being loyal and committed to the goals and values of the organization or team, and how this reflects a Christian’s integrity and character.
• Discuss the importance of striving for excellence and productivity, and how this reflects a Christian’s diligence and commitment to doing their best for the glory of God.
• Discuss the importance of avoiding deceitful behavior, laziness, and inconsistency, and how these behaviors reflect a lack of faithfulness and diligence in Christian work.
• Discuss the importance of being creative and innovative in work, and how this reflects a Christian’s reflection of God’s creativity and stewardship.

Conclusion (10 minutes):

• Summarize the main points discussed in the lesson, emphasizing the Christian attitude towards work and the behaviors Christians should exhibit at work.
• Engage students in a reflection activity, asking them to think about how they can apply these principles in their own lives and work environments.
• Encourage students to discuss any challenges they may face in exhibiting these behaviors at work and provide practical suggestions for overcoming them.
• Close the lesson with a prayer, thanking God for the opportunity to work and seeking His guidance in exhibiting a Christian attitude towards work.

Assessment:

• During the lesson, assess students’ participation in class discussions and their ability to accurately explain and discuss the Christian attitude towards work and the behaviors Christians should exhibit at work.
• At the end of the lesson, assign students a written reflection or journaling activity where they can reflect on how they can apply these principles in their own lives and work environments.
• Review and provide feedback on the written reflections or journaling activity to assess students’ understanding of the topic and their ability to apply the principles discussed in the lesson.